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Australian and Axios National Political Correspondent, Jonathan Swan in partnership with HBO was allowed generous time for an interview with President Donald Trump. Visiting the White House where many have not been before, Swan sat down with the American leader to speak on some of the most pressing issues facing the globe today.
Opening the interview, Trump was asked on his mantra and discussed that a positive outlook was the key to success in office. The first topic to be covered was over the COVID-19 pandemic and testing within the United States. For over 15 minutes, Trump and Swan carried out a heated discussion on case numbers within the country, where at the time of filming, accounted for over 145,000 deaths overall and 1,000 deaths per day.
READ: NO, NO ONE INVITED DONALD TRUMP TO THROW THE FIRST PITCH AT A YANKEES GAME
In an effort to prove his point, that the U.S. had more case numbers due to more tests, Donald Trump handed Swan a number of graphs revealing the statistics of America compared to some of the hardest hit countries. “See, we’re lower than the world,” explained Donald Trump. “Lower than the world?”, Swan responded in profound confusion.
“We’re last [on this graph], which mean we’re first,” Donald Trump continued. As the son of Dr. Norman Swan, Jonathan was clearly disgusted by such claims.
“Well, what’s your definition of control?” Trump asked. “Under the circumstances, right now, I think it’s under control.”
“How?” asked Swan. “A thousand Americans are dying a day.”
“They are dying, that’s true. And it is what it is,” Trump replied. “But that doesn’t mean we aren’t doing everything we can. It’s under control as much as you can control it.”
The interview was then turned towards intelligence on Russia who are accused of supplying weapons and money to the Taliban in Afghanistan. Naturally, Trump called it a “fake issue”. “It’s never reached my desk,” Trump claimed.
The conversation was then directed to the impending election, after Donald Trump told FOX News he couldn’t say if he would accept the results of the 2020 election. His old argument over mail-in ballots was raised as he questions the accuracy and potential “cheating” behind the process. “Somebody got a ballot for a dog,” Trump said.
READ: HOW K-POP AND TIKTOK FANS BECAME POLITICAL ICONS DURING THE 2020 ELECTION
Another bizarre moment was when Trump backed down over earlier comments in which he wished British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell well, after she was arrested for alleged child sex trafficking. “Yeah, I wish her well. I’d wish you well. I’d wish a lot of people well. Good luck. Let them prove somebody was guilty,” he said.
He also brought up the much-talked about debate on the whether Jeffery Epstein committed suicide or whether he was murdered. “Her boyfriend died in jail and people are still trying to figure out how did it happen. Was it suicide? Was he killed?”
The 37-minute interview ended on the Black Lives Matter movement where in Portland, riots have engulfed the city. Trump called American ‘Antifa’ – also known as anti-fascist activists – “terrorists”. Trump then argued that the “China Virus” undid all his good work for the black community. On a more positive note, when asked if he would support the changing of a bridge in Selma, Alabama to the ‘John Lewis’ bridge – named after the late Congressman John Lewis who championed civil rights and non-violent protest – Trump agreed.
The Twitter sphere is flooded with memes created from Jonathan Swan. You can see ICON’s favourites below.
strong new meme template pic.twitter.com/OiHGIAe9Uy
— Josh Billinson (@jbillinson) August 4, 2020
Jonathan when I explain why clothes have to go in a pile on the chair instead of in the closet pic.twitter.com/gmSZIjDwG8
— Betsy Woodruff Swan (@woodruffbets) August 4, 2020
2020 in pictures pic.twitter.com/EvJJCoAFph
— Tim Callanan (@MrTimCallanan) August 4, 2020
